Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights. Translated from Latin it means "show me the body.A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment. A writ of habeas corpus is a judicial mandate to a prison official, usually the warden, ordering that an inmate be brought to the court. To get a writ of habeas corpus, you must file a petition for a civil (not criminal) proceeding in either state or federal court. A prerogative writ used to challenge the validity of a person's detention, either in official custody (e.g. Introduction. This pamphlet is intended as a general guide to assist a person in prosecuting a civil matter in the Appellate Division, Second Department. § 6.3 Writ of habeas corpus. In this lesson, students will explore the history and purpose of the Habeas Corpus clause in the Constitution. In this lesson, students will explore the history and purpose of the Habeas Corpus clause in the Constitution.